About the Book:
Title: When Grumpy Met Sunshine
Author: Charlotte Stein
Publisher: Griffin
Release Date: February 6, 2024
Pages: 336
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Synopsis:
A steamy, opposites-attract romance with undeniable chemistry between a grumpy retired footballer and his fabulous and very sunshine-y ghostwriter.
When grumpy ex-footballer Alfie Harding gets badgered into selling his memoirs, he knows he’s never going to be able to write them. He hates revealing a single thing about himself, is allergic to most emotions, and can’t imagine doing a good job of putting pen to paper.
And so in walks curvy, cheery, cute as heck ghostwriter Mabel Willicker, who knows just how to sunshine and sass her way into getting every little detail out of Alfie. They banter and bicker their way to writing his life story, both of them sure they’ll never be anything other than at odds.
But after their business arrangement is mistaken for a budding romance, the pair have to pretend to be an item for a public who’s ravenous for more of this Cinderella story. Or at least, it feels like it’s pretend―until each slow burn step in their fake relationship sparks a heat neither can control. Now they just have to is this sizzling chemistry just for show? Or something so real it might just give them their fairytale ending?
Review:
*I received an e-arc via Netgalley from the publisher. Thank you for the opportunity to review. All thoughts are my own*
2.5 teacups rounded up to 3
I was really excited to read this one, based on the adorable cover and the premise of the story about a plus sized FMC who is adorable and the sunshine, and an ex-football player that is the grumpy MMC. With tropes that I love, such as opposites attract, when grumpy met sunshine, and fake dating, this romance sounded right up my alley. Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t for me.
I feel like the potential was there, but maybe the book could have used some more editing. I just couldn’t get over the never-ending dialogues between the two main characters, and waiting for something exciting to happen, that just never did. I also felt that some of the sexy scenes and excessive language were cringe. I also wanted to mention that there weren’t really any side characters that we truly got to know either.
As you can tell, I just wasn’t a fan. All books can’t be for everyone, so maybe someone else will enjoy this one.
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